Friends of Lincoln State Park Newsletter
November-December 2007 Volume 3 Issue 9
Holiday Gift Ideas From the Friends
Christmas is fast approaching which means time will soon be running out to shop for those hard to buy for friends and relatives. Looking for something different, but don't know where to begin? Let us help you!
Huffman Bridge Prints
The Friends are still offering for sale prints of a painting by local artist Jerry Baum of the historic Huffman Bridge that spans the Anderson River between Spencer and Perry Counties. Prints are $35 each with proceeds benefitting the activities and projects of the Friends of Lincoln State Park. For more information on purchasing one of these prints click here
DNR Camping Gift Cards
The perfect gift for the campers in your life, the DNR Camping Gift Card can be used for camping fees at state parks and reservoirs. They can be purchased at the Lincoln State Park office in $5 increments starting with a minimum amount of $20. For more information on purchasing gift cards click here
DNR Annual Entrance Permits
Does someone you know or love enjoy visiting Lincoln State Park or other parks several times each year? Why not give them an Annual Entrance Permit? Everytime they visit a state park in Indiana they'll be able to enter without paying the gate fee and will think of you! Annual Entrance Permits can be purchased at the Lincoln State Park office or other state park offices now. The permits cost $36 for Indiana residents or $46 for non-residents.
Outdoor Indiana Magazine
Why not give the gift of a subscription to DNR's Outdoor Indiana magazine to the outdoor enthusiast in your life. Outdoor Indiana is a bi-monthly, full-color, 48-page magazine that helps readers experience Indiana's valuable natural resources with stories and photographs that take the reader to parks, trails, rivers, and interesting communities. Outdoor Indiana also covers endangered and special wildlife, outdoor sports activities and cultural and natural history. A one-year subscription costs $12 or a two-year subscription can be purchased for $20. For more information click here
Congratulations to Contest Winners
The Friends of Lincoln State Park are pleased to congratulate all of the winners of our 2007 prize drawing. Thanks to all who entered. If you didn't win, don't worry...there's always next year!
Friends of Lincoln State Park T-shirt
Mark Banholzer of Indianapolis, IN
Jesse Spalding of Elizabeth, IN
Friends of Lincoln State Park Hat
Phillip Culbertson of Evansville, IN
Shawn Oberreiter of Evansville, IN
Elizabeth Lee of St. Meinrad, IN
2008 DNR Annual Entrance Permit
Suzanne Dilger of Tell City, IN
$15 DNR Camping GIft Card
Ryan Mullins of Huntingburg, IN
Huffman Mill Bridge Print by Jerry Baum
Darren Thompson of Evansville, IN
Free Membership and One Year Subscription to Outdoor Indiana Magazine
Tom Spoor, Jr. of Monterey, IN
Wayne's World of Birds: The Dark-Eyed Junco and the Barred Owl
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By Wayne Rink
The Dark-Eyed Junco
The Dark-Eyed Junco is a 6-inch long, slate-colored bird of the eastern United States that is a winter resident of this area. It has a pale bill, dark eyes, white belly, and a dark tail with conspicuous white outer feathers. Dark-Eyed Juncos also reside in the western part of the continent, but do not have the same colors. There are three separate color races in the west, each of them pretty in their own way.
They feed mostly on the ground, eating weed and grass seeds. At feeders, they will eat seeds on the ground or on trays. During the winter months they live in the edges of woods and in brushy areas. Dark-Eyed Juncos are also known as "snow birds" to some people.
The Barred Owl
The Barred Owl is a 21-inch long owl. Other than the Barn Owl, it is the only eastern owl with dark eyes. Its chest is barred, its belly is streaked, and it has no ear tufts. Barred Owls eat mice, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
Barred Owls live in woods, wooded swamps, and lakes close to wooded areas. They are one of our most vocal owls and often call during the day. They are known for their call that sounds like "Who cooks for you," but they have many more sounds including a spine-tingling scream. A pair's territory is usually about one square mile.
The Dark-Eyed Junco and Barred Owl are both in your Lincoln State Park and Col. Jones Home area, so why not come and enjoy the birds and wildlife now before the wintering birds head north to their summer homes. As you walk the trails, listen for the birds (icluding owls) and wildlife that are there with you. Also, be on the lookout for warblers as they come through our area on their way north.
Chainsaw Wood Carving of Young Abe Lincoln Complete
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We are quite pleased to report that the wood carving of young Abraham Lincoln commissioned by the Friends of Lincoln State Park earlier this fall has been completed! The Friends hired local chainsaw artisan, Willy Loper, to carve a life-sized likeness of the 16th President out of a sycamore log.
According to Loper, he began carving wood with chainsaws by hand in the Fall of 2000 after spending time in the Great Smoky Mountains. Inspired by artists there, he says he couldn't wait to get back to his home in Spencer County and soon begin expressing his own creativity.
Loper says his grandfather was a whittler and carver helping him to develop a lifelong fascination with and appreciation for wood at an early age, even though he did not begin working with wood himself until later. Chainsaw Willy, as he likes to be called, often participates in local festivals and special events and performed a demonstration earlier this fall at Lincoln State Park.
Mr. Lincoln is currently being securely housed at the park, but expect him to appear near the park entrance next spring. The Friends intend to dedicate the carving in honor of the upcoming Lincoln Bicentennial. Special thanks to Willy Loper for his work on the project and to everyone who supported this project through membership dues and special events at the park.
Other Friends Porjects
The Friends are also working on some other projects within the park. The Friends received a grant in 2006 from the Spencer County Community Foundation to assist with purchasing an interpretive sign for the Noah Gordon site at Lincoln State Park. The sign has now been manufactured and delivered to Lincoln State Park and is ready for installation. The Friends of Lincoln State Park donated $750 toward the purchase of the sign. At our last meeting of the year in November, our board of directors also voted to give $500 to the Interpretive Naturalist Program for the mounting of two pelts for an interpretive display at a new nature center in the works for 2008-2009. The funds will assist with taxidermy costs to mount pelts from a bobcat and an otter.
Fall Frolic & Haunted Trail Events Are Big Hit
The Friends Fall Frolic and Haunted Trail were once again big hits with young and old campers alike in October. The last two Saturdays of October saw campers enjoying hayrides, pumpkin painting, crafts, popcorn, hot chocolate, movies, and of course the haunted trail. Special thanks to Bonnie Hohl and Shirley Begle for planning and coordinating the events. The Friends would also like to thank the Senior Cadet Girl Scout Troop #139, the Heritage Hills FFA, Lincoln State Park staff, and all volunteers for their help with the events. Next year’s Fall Frolic & Haunted Trail are tentatively set for October 18 and 25, 2008, so make your camping reservations early and come join us in the fun!
